tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76394610889003432342024-03-18T06:50:51.578-04:00College RecruitingObserver fills you in on tomorrow's stars, todayUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger731125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-29379044429802119492011-08-10T15:44:00.002-04:002011-08-10T15:44:50.727-04:00Kannapolis athlete picks HeelsKannapolis A.L. Brown athlete Damien Washington wasn't fazed by the turmoil surrounding the University of North Carolina football program and has given a commitment to the Tar Heels.<br />
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Washington plays slot receiver and running back for A.L. Brown and is 6-foot-2, 190 pounds. First-year A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome said Washington obviously is aware of the changes and uncertainty at North Carolina after coach Butch Davis' firing July 27, but was ready to commit quickly after receiving a scholarship offer.<br />
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Newsome said Washington has always wanted to play at North Carolina. He is the first player to known to have given a new commitment (as opposed to re-affirming an existing commitment) to the Tar Heels and interim coach Everett Withers since Davis was fired.<br />
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"Kids are resilient," Newsome said. "They don’t always look at the probation stuff and all that. That’s where the kid wanted to go."<br />
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Although Washington didn't have any other Football Bowl Subdivision scholarship offers, Newsome suspects that he would have received at least one more offer later in the recruiting calendar.<br />
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He said Washington's versatility is his strength; he's a natural receiver or running back who can play several positions. <br />
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"He’s a lot of different things," Newsome said. "He also can play defense. I think Carolina thinks he can come in and play corner or safety for them because he’s so athletic."<br />
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<i>Ken Tysiac<br />
</i>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com280tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-60001553259170061722011-07-29T19:52:00.000-04:002011-07-29T19:52:11.654-04:00Timing of Duke scholarship offer questionedDuke released a statement Friday after reports that basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski may have violated an NCAA recruiting rule by offering a scholarship to a recruit during a summer club tournament.<br />
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“In all rules matters brought to our attention, the Duke compliance department exercises due diligence in determining the relevant facts of a given situation,” Duke associate director of athletics for media relations and public affairs Jon Jackson said in the statement. “Proper adherence to NCAA bylaws has always been, and will continue to be, a cornerstone of Duke Athletics.”<br />
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CBSSports.com reported that Krzyzewski offered a scholarship to Class of 2012 standout Alex Poythress, a 6-foot-7 forward from Clarksville, Tenn., on Tuesday. But the scholarship offer reportedly came before Poythress’ Georgia Stars team completed play in the Super Showcase tournament in Orlando, Fla.<br />
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NCAA Rule 13.1.6.2 prohibits coaches from contacting athletes until they are finished playing in a tournament.<br />
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Jackson declined further comment; NCAA rules that prevent staff members from talking about recruits that have not signed scholarship agreements.<br />
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<i>Ken Tysiac<br />
</i>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-19751886569816347702011-06-29T14:33:00.002-04:002011-06-29T14:36:47.436-04:00Wolfpack adds a tight end, tooNewark (Del.) High football coach Butch Simpson said you don't hear the ball hit David Grinnage's hands when Grinnage catches a pass.<br />
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"He has incredibly soft hands," Simpson said. "Catching the ball is probably the best thing that he does."<br />
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The 6-foot-5, 243-pound senior committed to N.C. State on Tuesday.<br />
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"I think that N.C. State is looking at him as a tight end, but we run a spread and he was more of a slot back, an H-back for us," Simpson said. "We had four good receivers ahead of him at the start of last season, but he kept getting better and better and started catching passes and scoring touchdowns."<br />
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Newark finished 6-4 in 2010, but averaged 37 points per game.<br />
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Grinnage is a great athlete, Simpson said. Grinnage was a wrestler and hit clean up for the Newark baseball team.<br />
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-- Tim Stevens<br />
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<object style="height: 200px; width: 330px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jpSSPa609D4?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jpSSPa609D4?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="330" height="200"></object>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-39743517029487631252011-06-29T12:24:00.003-04:002011-06-29T12:27:55.570-04:00N.C. State gets commitment from OG (with video)Eddie Gordon, a 6-foot-2, 315-pound offensive guard, announced Tuesday that he will accept a football scholarship to N.C. State.<br />
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Gordon made his commitment on his 17th birthday.<br />
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"I knew I wanted to go to N.C. State and I decided to announce on my birthday," he said.<br />
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Boiling Springs (S.C.) High coach Bruce Clark said Gordon had made himself into an outstanding prospect.<br />
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"He is an exceptional blocker," Clark said. "He has tremendous feet, changes direction well and is excellent blocking downfield. He has great movement as a pass blocker."<br />
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Clark said Gordon was a year younger than many of his classmates.<br />
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"Eddie is going to continue to get better," Clark said. "He is still growing and maturing. If he had two more years of high school instead of just one, he'd be a monster."<br />
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Gordon also had offers from East Carolina and Furman.<br />
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"N.C. State was the first school to show interest in me. It invited me to its camp after my freshman year," Gordon said. "And State was the first school to offer me a scholarship, too.<br />
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"After I visited there, I really liked Coach [Tom] O'Brien and his staff, the players and the players that are coming in. The facilities are fantastic and I really like the school. I knew it was the place for me."<br />
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-- Tim Stevens<br />
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<object style="height: 300px; width: 500px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0l4nwqCb7Nk?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0l4nwqCb7Nk?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="500" height="300"></object>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-63874426974346744972011-06-15T11:30:00.001-04:002011-06-15T11:31:55.668-04:00Tar Heels land QB prospectNorth Carolina has received a commitment from quarterback Patton Robinette of Maryville (Tenn.) High School, according to <a href="http://northcarolina.scout.com/2/1079806.html">Inside Carolina's website</a>.<br />
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<object style="height: 300px; width: 540px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PmN0BdnVzSs?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PmN0BdnVzSs?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="540" height="300"></object>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-62099036799520288602011-06-01T17:22:00.002-04:002011-06-01T17:24:47.595-04:00Tar Heels add football commitmentJustin Meredith, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound tight end at Anderson (S.C.) Hanna, turned down more than 30 other scholarship offers to commit to the University of North Carolina.<br />
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Meredith already has accepted a spot in the UnderArmour All-America football game next spring. Clemson, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Tennessee and LSU were among the offers he most seriously considered.<br />
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“He is your prototype tight end,” said Hanna coach Kenya Fouch. “He is a big kid with long arms who is quick and strong. He makes good grades and has good character. He is exactly what college coaches are looking for.”<br />
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Meredith was on the Hanna varsity as a freshman. The school has a strong football tradition and currently has graduated players on the rosters of Wake Forest, N.C. State, Kentucky and South Carolina.<br />
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Hanna was 7-6 in 2010 but lost three games to teams that advanced to the state championship game in their classification.<br />
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-- Tim Stevens<br />
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<object style="height: 320px; width: 500px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z1KsHWisA4o?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z1KsHWisA4o?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="500" height="320"></object>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-3554784724020872692011-05-29T13:40:00.003-04:002011-05-29T15:09:52.396-04:00Gill beats buzzer for big TOC winRALEIGH – In his home gym Sunday, Ravenscroft junior-to-be Anton Gill provided a spectacular finish to the 16-and-under division of the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions.<br />
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Gill’s Garner Road team got the ball with a two-point deficit after the Long Island Lightning scored on a tip-in with four seconds remaining in the 16-and-under championship game.<br />
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Taking the ball in the backcourt, Gill crossed the halfcourt line, pulled up from 28 feet and rattled in a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded for a 58-57 win.<br />
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“I just wanted to get the best look possible,” Gill said. “I looked up, and I didn’t see anybody and I was open. So I got to a good spot and I just let it go and it went in.”<br />
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Gill scored 13 points to lead Garner Road in the championship game and was named 16-and-under most valuable player. The honor added to his reputation as a big-time recruit – he’s rated the No. 23 player in the nation in the Class of 2013 by scout.com.<br />
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He said that at this point, he is not overly concerned with the recruiting process. His ACC scholarship offers thus far have come from N.C. State and Wake Forest.<br />
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“I’ve got a lot of offers, a lot of Division I looks, but I don’t think I’m ready yet to make a decision where I want to go to college,” Gill said. “I just have to keep working hard and working on my game and I know when it comes time to make a decision I’ll make the right one.”<br />
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Gill’s game-winning buzzer beater was his second in the Ravenscroft gym. On Feb. 2, he made a 3-pointer from the corner to defeat Middle Creek 59-57.<br />
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Sunday’s winning basket had him waxing nostalgic about attending the Tournament of Champions in past years and watching players such as John Wall (now of the Washington Wizards) and C.J. Leslie (N.C. State).<br />
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“There’s been so many great players in this tournament,” Gill said, “and I was definitely one of the guys up in the stands jumping up and down when shots like this happened.”<br />
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Garner Road’s successful overall weekend also included a championship in the consolation bracket of the 17-and-under division.<br />
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T.J. Warren scored 39 points in the title game win over Belmont Shore. Garner Road failed to make the championship bracket after a Saturday loss to Team Loaded when N.C. State commitment Tyler Lewis scored 47 points to outduel Warren, who scored 41.<br />
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“It was a tough loss, but we got over it,” said Warren, the MVP of the consolation bracket.<br />
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In the 17-and-under championship bracket, the Southern Phenoms defeated the South Florida Panthers 59-53.<br />
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<i>Ken Tysiac</i>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-33181228805305076102011-05-27T21:14:00.002-04:002011-05-27T21:14:43.684-04:00Tokoto opens TOC with a slamRALEIGH - On one of the first possessions of tonight's game, future University of North Carolina wing J.P. Tokoto stole a pass on the wing and glided downcourt for a two-handed dunk.<br />
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Tokoto, who's committed to the Tar Heels for the Class of 2012, got off to a decent start tonight at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions at Ravenscroft School. Tokoto, who's 6-foot-6, scored a team-high 19 points as his Wisconsin Playground Warriors summer club team defeated the North Carolina Gaters 57-51 in their tournament opener.<br />
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Still, he didn't sound satisfied.<br />
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"Everybody was a little bit sluggish from the start," Tokoto said. "Everybody is coming back from two weeks ago we came back from a good tournament win in the adidas May Classic. Everybody was a little sluggish the first game, but we’ll look better by tomorrow."<br />
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<i>Ken Tysiac</i>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-26039725926649333152011-05-23T14:24:00.003-04:002011-05-23T15:08:35.685-04:00UNC gets two linebacker commitments for 2012Two players who committed to North Carolina in the past few days will help shore up the Tar Heels' linebacking corps beginning in 2012.<br />
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Durham Jordan's Phillip Williamson and Holy Spirit High (Absecon, N.J.) defender Dan Mastromatteo have decided to join the Tar Heels.<br />
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Williamson plays strong safety at Jordan but has grown to 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds and is likely to help the Tar Heels at outside linebacker, according to Jordan coach Mike Briggs. Williamson had scholarship offers from North Carolina and Duke, and had several other schools showing interest.<br />
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Briggs said Williamson has natural size and strength, and displays an intense desire to improve.<br />
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"It's hard to outwork him," Briggs said. "He works hard in the weight room and works hard on the field."<br />
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Mastromatteo is about 6-2 and 215 pounds.<br />
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Ken Tysiac<i></i>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-21659167895440665122011-05-05T11:12:00.000-04:002011-05-05T11:12:25.383-04:00Murphy formally signs with DukeDuke has received a national letter of intent from forward Alex Murphy, who recently decided to forgo his senior season at St. Mark's School in Southborough, Mass., and enroll in 2011 to play for the Blue Devils.<br />
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Murphy averaged 21.0 points per game as a junior while leading St. Mark's to a 27-3 record. He had started high school at the Prout School in Rhode Island before transferring to St. Mark's, where he repeated his freshman year and reclassified to the Class of 2012.<br />
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His family has strong ties to basketball. His father, Jay, played for Boston College and in the NBA in the 1980s, and his mother, Paivi played for the Finnish national team. Murphy's brother, Erik, plays at Florida.<br />
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ESPN.com ranks Murphy as the No. 40 player overall in the Class of 2011. Murphy joins guards Austin Rivers and Quinn Cook, forward Michael Gbinije and center Marshall Plumlee in a Duke Class of 2011 group that will be rated as one of the top classes in the nation.<br />
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<i>Ken Tysiac</i>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-91022731475049908492011-04-20T13:09:00.002-04:002011-04-20T13:09:55.977-04:00Shooting guard Raymond signs with N.C. StateStatesboro (Ga.) shooting guard Jaqawn Raymond followed through Wednesday on a commitment he had made to N.C. State under its previous coaching staff when he signed with the Wolfpack and new coach Mark Gottfried.<br />
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Lee Hill, Raymond's coach at Statesboro High, confirmed the signing. Raymond had committed to former N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe, but Hill said Raymond felt comfortable with the new staff after they visited him.<br />
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Raymond, who's 6-foot-4, averaged 21.3 points per game and shot 79 percent from the free throw line last season. He also carries a 3.5 grade-point average, Hill said.<br />
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"They're getting a very high-IQ basketball player. . .a very good outside shooter, athletic-type kid that's going to be smart in the classroom also," Hill said.<br />
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<i>Ken Tysiac</i>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-47491721454690844802011-04-19T21:21:00.002-04:002011-04-19T21:21:29.387-04:00Recruit Murphy to enroll a year early at DukeHighly rated basketball recruit Alex Murphy will graduate from high school a year early and enroll at Duke in 2011 rather than 2012, his father confirmed Tuesday night.<br />
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Jay Murphy, who played four seasons in the NBA in the mid- to late 1980s, referred to a quote his son gave Fox Sports columnist Jeff Goodman, saying Alex considered this a difficult decision but one that’s best for him.<br />
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“We’re excited about the opportunity for Alex,” Jay Murphy said. “We know it’s a great program, and we know he’s going to have to work harder than he ever did before.”<br />
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Alex Murphy is a 6-foot-8, 180-pound forward at St. Mark’s School in Southborough, Mass., who was rated the No. 11 player overall in the Class of 2012 by scout.com. He should have an opportunity to contribute right away because Duke is losing a player with similar size and skills, forward Kyle Singler, who was a senior in 2010-11.<br />
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Murphy will be the fifth member of Duke’s 2011 recruiting class. He joins guards Quinn Cook and Austin Rivers, forward Michael Gbinije and center Marshall Plumlee in the class.<br />
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Duke has one more scholarship left to give for 2011.<br />
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<i>Ken Tysiac</i>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-21891124174386612222011-04-15T18:31:00.000-04:002011-04-15T18:31:09.038-04:00N.C. State releases recruit from scholarshipN.C. State basketball recruit Joseph Uchebo, a 6-foot-9 forward at Raleigh Word of God, has requested a release from his scholarship offer.<br />
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Uchebo could not be reached for comment today, but N.C. State spokesperson Annabelle Myers confirmed that Uchebo had made the request of new coach Mark Gottfried and the Wolfpack program. N.C. State has granted Uchebo's request, Myers said.<br />
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"The staff wishes him the very best wherever he wishes to go," Gottfried said in a statement released by Myers.<br />
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<i>-- Lorenzo Perez</i>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-49455595704081972982011-04-14T12:04:00.000-04:002011-04-14T12:04:41.108-04:00N.C. State gets commitment from QBGreensboro Page quarterback <a href="http://northcarolinastate.scout.com/">James Summers has committed to N.C. State, according to Pack Pride website</a> (full story requires a subscription).<br />
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Here is <a href="http://bit.ly/f9OkXq">Summers' profile</a> from scout.com.Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-35376158911253530552011-04-08T12:46:00.000-04:002011-04-08T12:46:20.932-04:00No commitment for Duke yet from DanielsKyrie Irving probably spoke a bit prematurely regarding IMG Academy Class of 2011 forward DeAndre Daniels and Duke.<br />
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IMG Academy director of basketball Andy Borman said this morning that Daniels is considering the Blue Devils and will visit for Duke’s banquet on April 15.<br />
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But Borman said Daniels hasn’t committed to Duke and hasn’t even been offered a scholarship, although that might change when Daniels visits Durham.<br />
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During a teleconference with reporters Thursday to discuss Irving’s decision to enter the NBA draft after one season as a Blue Devils guard, Irving said he thought Duke had five freshmen entering the program next season with the addition of Daniels.<br />
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Borman – who played for Duke from 1999 to 2004 - said he isn’t sure what Daniels said to Irving. Borman characterized Daniels as “extremely interested” in Duke, but not committed.<br />
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“As of now, DeAndre has not committed, nor has he offered,” Borman said.<br />
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Daniels, a 6-foot-8 forward rated the No. 35 player in the Class of 2011 by scout.com, has rescinded a commitment to Texas, but still is considering the Longhorns along with Duke, Kansas, Florida and other schools.<br />
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In the fall, Duke signed guards Austin Rivers and Quinn Cook, forward Michael Gbinije and center Marshall Plumlee in the Class of 2011. Irving’s departure opens up an extra scholarship for the Blue Devils; they have 11 of their 13 scholarship slots filled for 2011-12.<br />
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<i>Ken Tysiac<br />
</i>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-32800156585209494412011-04-07T17:00:00.002-04:002011-04-07T17:00:52.308-04:00If Irving is right, Daniels may soon be a DevilIf Kyrie Irving’s comments during a telephone conference with reporters this afternoon are any indication, Class of 2011 forward DeAndre Daniels may soon be committed to the Blue Devils.<br />
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During a conference scheduled to discuss Irving’s decision to enter the NBA draft, Irving was asked if he had given thought to how good Duke might have been next season if he had decided to return.<br />
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“That’s something I’ve thought about considerably because of the talent that we’ll have next year,” Irving said. “I think this year’s team was really special and I think next year’s team would be really special if I were to return.<br />
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“I think we have about five recruits coming in with the addition of DeAndre Daniels. That’s five recruits. So it would be really special, so that would give me a chance to lead the team. . . .If I were to return, it would be a really special team.”<br />
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Daniels, a 6-foot-8 forward rated No. 35 in the nation by scout.com, has not announced a commitment. He has opened up his recruiting after rescinding an earlier commitment to Texas.<br />
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If Daniels does choose Duke, it wouldn’t be a surprise. Andy Borman, the basketball director at IMG in Bradenton, Fla., played for Duke from 1999 to 2004.<br />
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IMG basketball operations director Greg Spatola is the brother of Duke director of basketball operations Chris Spatola, who is married to Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s daughter, Jamie.<br />
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Efforts to reach Borman for comment on whether Daniels has committed to Duke were not immediately successful.<br />
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Duke already has signed Austin Rivers, Marshall Plumlee, Michael Gbinije and Quinn Cook in the Class of 2011.<br />
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<i>Ken Tysiac</i>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-86310847411870303882011-03-04T06:27:00.000-05:002011-03-04T06:27:24.986-05:00VIDEO: Tar Heel commitment J.P. TokotoWisconsin high school player J.P. Tokoto committed to play college basketball at North Carolina late Thursday night. Here's a video with highlights of Tokoto from an AAU tournament last summer:<br />
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<object style="height: 200px; width: 320px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8spwhzMk6fQ?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8spwhzMk6fQ?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="320" height="200"></object>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-1042522292493270252011-03-03T23:44:00.000-05:002011-03-03T23:44:26.457-05:00Wisconsin wing Tokoto picks Tar Heels<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><state w:st="on">North Carolina</state> added a highly regarded wing player to its 2012 recruiting class late Thursday night when J.P. Tokoto of <place w:st="on">Menomonee Falls</place>, Wisc., announced that he is committing to the Tar Heels.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Ritchie Davis, Tokoto’s club coach with the Wisconsin Playground Warriors, confirmed that Tokoto had spoken to <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">North Carolina</place></state> coach Roy Williams on the telephone and informed him that he had chosen the Tar Heels.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Tokoto is a 6-foot-6, 190-pound wing who’s rated the 32<sup>nd</sup>-best player in the nation by ESPN.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">He joins point guard Marcus Paige of <city w:st="on">Marion</city>, <state w:st="on">Iowa</state>, in the Class of 2012 for <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">North Carolina</state></place>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><em>Ken Tysiac</em></div>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-33023871171139268022011-03-01T12:49:00.000-05:002011-03-01T12:49:00.274-05:00Juco LB Desir has signed with UNC<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><div id="blog-content">Junior college linebacker Fabby Desir signed with North Carolina on Monday and has overnighted his scholarship papers to the school, his coach confirmed today in an e-mail.<br />
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Lackawanna (Pa.) College coach Mark Duda calls Desir a "high-motor kid" who is going with excellent speed as a converted running back and safety at 6-foot and 230 pounds.<br />
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Desir joins a class that was ranked No. 17 in the nation by scout.com by on signing day last month.<br />
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He visited North Carolina last week and also considered Cincinnati and Ball State, and was being recruited by Alabama as well, Duda said.<br />
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<em>Ken Tysiac</em></div></div>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-2711220793994180592011-02-28T09:46:00.002-05:002011-02-28T09:46:54.343-05:00Juco LB to sign with UNC today<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">North Carolina will add junior college linebacker Fabby Desir to a 2011 class that was ranked No. 17 in the nation by scout.com on signing day.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Desir will sign with the Tar Heels at noon today, Lackawanna (Pa.) College coach Mark Duda said.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">"He's a super strong kid, incredibly tenacious, goes after the ball very, very well," Duda said.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">A converted running back and safety, Desir played outside linebacker for Lackawanna but could play any of the three linebacker positions for the Tar Heels, Duda said.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Desir is 6-foot and 230 pounds and also had considered Cincinnati and Ball State, and received late interest from Alabama, Duda said. Desir visited North Carolina last week and will sign this morning at Scranton High, where he played in high school.</div><br />
<em>Ken Tysiac</em><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-39879452532322237572011-02-16T07:49:00.000-05:002011-02-16T07:49:50.845-05:00Q&A with Duke signee Austin RiversWinter Park, Fla., senior guard Austin Rivers, a Duke signee who's ranked the No. 1 player in the Class of 2011, was selected Tuesday to play in the 2011 Jordan Brand Classic, scheduled for April 16 at Charlotte's Time Warner Cable Arena. <br />
In an exclusive telephone interview, he talked about his goals for the Jordan Brand and McDonald's All-America games, his plans for improvement, and the effect his father, Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, has had on him:<br />
<br />
Q: You’ll be playing in some postseason all-star games here soon. What do you want to do in them?<br />
<br />
A: Most importantly, win. Everything is more fun and enjoyable when you win. So just, go in there, play hard and win. I think to have fun. . .and strengthen relationships with my friends. A lot of guys [I know] are going to be there. It’s always nice to kick back and relax and hang out with players that are in similar situations that you are. It will be nice to go there, see some guys, compete and play basketball. Hopefully I can just do my thing and come away with a win.<br />
<br />
Q: What are your goals between now and when you come to Duke? I guess you’re probably coming in the summer?<br />
<br />
A: Just to continue to get better, improve on my skills and just keep developing and getting stronger. That’s my main focus right now, to strengthen my skills and my body.<br />
<br />
Q: Any particular skills you feel you need to work on?<br />
<br />
A: I’ll say my mid-range as far as, I have a really nice three-ball and a really nice handle where I can get into the paint and finish or dunk on someone or something like that. I think mid-range is always a lost art of the game, so it’s always nice to have everything. I really do have a strong mid-range, but it’s just to work on everything, really, and get ready to have a defensive mind set. With Duke, they pick up a lot of times fullcourt man and Coach K and those [coaches] emphasize defense. That’s one thing I want to get better on.<br />
<br />
Q: How much of an influence has your father had on you? You seem to understand the game extremely well. How much is he a part of that?<br />
<br />
A: He’s a big part of it. I’ve been around the game my whole life, so I’ve gotten to see and meet and talk to a lot of different NBA players and see how their lives are and how they live. And I grew up around my Dad, who knows the game as well as anybody. He’s always taught me right from wrong as far as basketball, what to say and what not to say, what to do and what not to do. I think just having him in my corner my whole life has been a benefit playing basketball.<br />
<br />
Q: You scored 46 points in a game as a high school sophomore? Is that right? How did you do it?<br />
<br />
A: I’ve always been a scorer. I’ve always been a great scorer. That’s one thing I’ve always had confidence in myself as far as me thinking I’m better than anybody. I’ve always had a mind set where I’ve always felt you need more than one person to guard me. Especially now that I’m a lot better than I was back then. They basically just played man, and it was just one on one. And that’s not going to work out too well. I got hot. And things got going and shots started falling.<br />
<br />
Q: Is that the most you’ve ever scored?<br />
<br />
A: Last year, I think I scored 47 against somebody. I’ve scored 40 a lot of times. I think I’ve scored 40 four times this year and five times last year. I think 47 is my high in a high school game.<br />
<br />
Q: How did international play [on the USA under-18 select team] help you?<br />
<br />
A: That was actually one of the best experiences I’ve had playing basketball, just getting a taste of what it’s like over there [in international basketball]. It’s really similar. The only difference is, you’ve got to be a lot more focused on the defensive end because they take their time to get shots up and they’re really smart basketball players. They’re not as athletic as us over here so what they rely on is their IQ. So you really have to be focused on is the defensive end, which is fun.<br />
<br />
Ken TysiacObserver Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-79378857015526723572011-02-15T13:02:00.002-05:002011-02-15T14:48:29.498-05:00Jordan Brand Classic has Duke-UNC appealHigh-scoring guard Austin Rivers anticipates cheers and perhaps some boos when he plays in the Jordan Brand Classic at <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Charlotte</place></city>’s Time Warner Cable Arena at 8 p.m. on April 16. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Rivers joins Michael Gbinije as one of two Duke signees on the roster announced this afternoon for the high-profile high school all-star game. The game will have a distinct Duke-Carolina flavor, as <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">North Carolina</place></state> signees James McAdoo and P.J. Hairston also are on the roster.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“I know there’s going to be a lot of Duke people there to support me and a lot of <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">North Carolina</place></state> people hating on me,” Rivers said. “At the end of the day, it’s all good. The Duke and <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">North Carolina</state></place> fans are the best fans in basketball, in my opinion.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><city w:st="on">High Point</city>’s Quincy Miller, who has signed with Baylor, and Winston-Salem’s Sir’Dominic Pointer (<city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">St. John’s</place></city>) will provide homegrown talent to the game, which is celebrating its 10<sup>th</sup> anniversary.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The game began as the Capital Classic and was played three years in <city w:st="on">Washington</city>, <state w:st="on">D.C.</state>, before being held the last six years in <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">New York</place></state>. Moving the game to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Charlotte</place></city> takes it to an area with strong college basketball fan support.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“The people from <state w:st="on">North Carolina</state> are definitely going to be excited about seeing the <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">North Carolina</place></state> and Duke players,” McAdoo said. “We’re looking forward to that, showing our talents to the UNC future fans.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The game will be televised on ESPN2. The event also will include an international game at 3:30 p.m. and a regional game at 5:30 p.m. featuring top high school players from <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">North Carolina</state></place> in an East vs. West format.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Sixteen top 17-and-under players from around the world will compete in the international game. Rosters for the international and regional games will be announced at a later date.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The main event will feature the top five players in the Class of 2011 according to ESPNU’s rankings. <city w:st="on">Winter Park</city>, <state w:st="on">Fla.</state>, standout Rivers is ranked No. 1, followed by two Kentucky-bound players, Anthony Davis of <city w:st="on">Chicago</city> and Michael Gilchrist of <city w:st="on">Elizabeth</city>, <state w:st="on">N.J.</state> Miller is No. 4, and McAdoo, a forward from Norfolk Christian in <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">Virginia</state></place>, is No. 5.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The game’s sponsor, Jordan Brand, is a division of Nike, Inc.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">McAdoo will be returning to familiar territory because his sister, Kelsey McAdoo, played basketball for the <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Charlotte</city></place> 49ers. He said he has enjoyed visiting <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Charlotte</place></city> because of its diverse selection of restaurants and is looking forward to coming back because of Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan’s history as a former Tar Heel guard.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“<city w:st="on">Charlotte</city> being the team that Michael Jordan owns and of course, Michael Jordan’s connection with <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">North Carolina</state></place> basketball, and with P.J. in the game also, I’m really looking forward to it,” McAdoo said.</div><br />
<i>Ken Tysiac</i><br />
<br />
<i>Tickets for the Jordan Brand Classic are now on sale at all Ticketmaster locations, the Time Warner Cable box office, online at ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. </i>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-14622097735884782242011-02-15T13:00:00.004-05:002011-02-15T14:53:25.475-05:00Jordan Brand Classic roster announcedJordan Brand, a division of Nike, announced today that the following players have been selected for the Jordan Brand Classic, a high school all-star game to be played at Charlotte's Time Warner Cable Arena on April 16: <br />
<br />
ESPNU 100 Rank, Player, Name (Home/college choice)<br />
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No. 1 Austin Rivers (Winter Park, Fla./Duke)<br />
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No. 2 Anthony Davis (Chicago/Kentucky)<br />
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No. 3 Michael Gilchrist (Elizabeth, N.J./Kentucky)<br />
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No. 4 Quincy Miller (High Point/Baylor)<br />
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No. 5 James McAdoo (Norfolk, Va./North Carolina)<br />
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No. 7 Bradley Beal (St. Louis, Mo./Florida)<br />
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No. 8 Marquis Teague (Indianapolis/Kentucky)<br />
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No. 9 Myck Kabongo (Henderson, Nev./Texas)<br />
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No. 10 Adonis Thomas (Memphis/Memphis)<br />
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No. 11 Khem Birch (Fitchburg, Mass./Pittsburgh) <br />
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No. 13 P.J. Hairston (Chatham, Va./North Carolina)<br />
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No. 14 Tony Wroten Jr. (Seattle, Wash./Washington)<br />
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No. 15 Kyle Wiltjer (Portland, Ore./Kentucky)<br />
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No. 16 Rakeem Christmas (Bryn Athyn, Pa./Syracuse)<br />
<br />
No. 18 Michael Carter-Williams (Providence, R.I./Syracuse)<br />
<br />
No. 22 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Greenville, Ga./Georgia)<br />
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No. 24 Jabari Brown (Oakland, Calif./Oregon)<br />
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No. 28 Michael Gbinije (Richmond, Va./Duke)<br />
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No. 29 Shannon Scott (Alpharetta, Ga./Ohio State)<br />
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No. 30 Johnny O’Bryant (Cleveland, Miss./LSU)<br />
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No. 34 Sir’Dominic Pointer (Winston-Salem/St. John’s)<br />
<br />
No. 42 Otto Porter (Sikeston, Mo./Undecided)<br />
<br />
The game marks the event's 10th anniverary. It starts at 8 p.m. and be televised live on ESPN2.Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-76107569359565888812011-02-15T10:46:00.002-05:002011-02-15T10:46:44.595-05:00Pack commitment is 6-10 with deep range<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">North Broward (Fla.) Prep coach Scott Williams said 6-foot-10 Josip Mikulic reminds N.C. State assistant coach Monte Towe of Dwayne Schintzius, a 7-footer who played for Towe and Norm Sloan at Florida in the 1980s and later in the NBA.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Mikulic, a current high school junior who is originally from Croatia, has committed to N.C. State, Williams said.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">"He's an extremely good shooter," Williams said. "He has NBA range and is very fundamentally sound for a big kid. He's a good, quality basketball player."</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Williams said growing up overseas, where players are known for developing their perimeter skills, helped Mikulic hone a good 3-point stroke. Mikulic also had a late growth spurt.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">"Up until two or three years ago he was a guard," Williams said. "He was 6-2, 6-3. He was a perimeter player, and he grew into that body."</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Mikulic planned to commit to the first school that showed a commitment to him, and N.C. State was that school, Williams said.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">"He's a very loyal kid, and I think he thought Coach [Sidney] Lowe could develop his game," Williams said. </div><br />
<em>Ken Tysiac</em><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639461088900343234.post-42582061561208920542011-02-11T09:52:00.000-05:002011-02-11T09:52:02.465-05:00Duke reels in another big 2012 commitment<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Rasheed Sulaimon gave Duke its second top-20 commitment in a week in the Class of 2012 when he chose the Blue Devils after visiting campus for Wednesday's game against North Carolina.<br />
<br />
Sulaimon, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound shooting guard from Strake Jesuit College Prep in Houston, Texas, is rated No. 19 in the class by scout.com. Earlier in the week, 6-8 forward Alex Murphy of St. Mark's School in Southborough, Mass., committed to Duke. Murphy is ranked No. 11 in the class by scout.com.<br />
<br />
Marland Lowe, who coaches Sulaimon for the Houston Hoops club team, said Sulaimon was impressed with the atmosphere at Cameron Indoor Stadium and the academics at Duke. Lowe said Sulaimon is an excellent student who also considered Texas, Baylor, Arizona, Stanford and Harvard.<br />
<br />
Lowe said Duke's combination of academic prestige and college basketball tradition led him to select the Blue Devils. Although Sulaimon plays shooting guard, Lowe said he can create shots for teammates and defend well enough to play point guard.<br />
<br />
"He's a stud," Lowe said. "He's a high-volume scorer, a great defender, a great teammate, a great kid from a great family."<br />
<br />
Sulaimon's strengths, according to Lowe, are his ability to create shots for himself and score off screens. Sulaimon also prides himself on being able to guard the ball and defend the opposing team's best player.<br />
<br />
<em>Ken Tysiac</em></div>Observer Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07996319410978004669noreply@blogger.com3